Nordic Europe in comparative perspective

• Few readers will be surprised at our treatment of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden as one region. There is in fact widespread agreement among students of politics, social life, history, and culture that these countries share many commonalities, and that it is for a variety of purposes meaningful and interesting to study them jointly. While the Nordic countries make up a plausible and familiar region, they are not historically or geographically indistinguishable. Two countries (Norway and Sweden) are located on the geographically and culturally cohesive Scandinavian Peninsula (which takes its name from Skåne, the southernmost part of Sweden). Denmark lies on the other side of the strait of Öresund, but is seen as part of Scandinavia for historical, political, and cultural reasons. In strictly geographic terms and in our analysis, Finland and Iceland are considered to be Nordic countries, but not Scandinavian ones. Many observers argue that the political similarities between the five countries outweigh the differences. For this reason, they are often seen as suitable for "most similar system" comparisons (see, for example, Miles 1996; Arter 1999, 147-49). Indeed, Einhorn and Logue (2003, xii) argue that with the impact of globalization and the collapse of the Soviet Union, "the commonalities [in the region] have grown while the differences have lessened." The research presented in this book will allow us to assess such judgments as they apply to contemporary Nordic parliaments and parties.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Statsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Political Science (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kap (subject category)